Stacked rotary connector assembly using a split ring configuration

Abstract

An improved stacked rotary connector assembly wherein each connector comprises a pair of rings and the rings of each rotary connector thereof are individually split and mechanically separable. Because the input and output rings are each split and separable, any one rotary connector may be removed from the stack without requiring removal of any other rotary connector and without disturbing the input/output buses of the assembly.

1. An improved rotary connector assembly, the assembly having a plurality of coaxially stacked rotary connectors, each connector having a pair of rings, the connectors each having a central aperture, the apertures of the stacked connectors forming a common passage for receiving signal carriers conveying inputs through the assembly; wherein the improvement comprises:
 each said ring of each said connector being split along a surface intersecting said aperture to enable selective removal of a connector from said assembly by withdrawal of each of said rings in at least two sections without substantially affecting any other connector in said assembly; and 
 wherein each said connector has an input and an output, the input having a 1:2 splitter and the output having a 2:1 combiner so that each distinct section of said rings serves a connector function. 
 
   
   
     2. The improvement recited in  claim 1  wherein said common passage has a unitary axis through said connector assembly and wherein said surface intersecting said aperture, intersects said axis. 
   
   
     3. The improvement recited in  claim 1  wherein said two sections are congruent to one another. 
   
   
     4. The improvement recited in  claim 1  wherein said surface intersecting said aperture creates two ring sections from each said ring, each such section forming a portion of said central aperture. 
   
   
     5. A rotary connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of coaxially stacked rotary connectors, each connector having a pair of rings at least one of which is rotatable, each such ring having a central aperture, the apertures of the rings of said connectors being aligned to form a common passage through said stacked rotary connectors, each of said rings of each of said connectors being split along a surface intersecting said aperture to enable selective removal of a connector from said assembly by withdrawal of each of said rings in at least two distinct sections; and 
 wherein each said connector has an input and an output, the input having a 1:2 splitter and the output having a 2:1 combiner so that each distinct section of said rings serves a connector function. 
 
   
   
     6. The rotary connector assembly recited in  claim 5  wherein said common passage has a unitary axis through said connector assembly and wherein said surface intersecting said aperture intersects said axis. 
   
   
     7. The rotary connector assembly recited in  claim 5  wherein said two distinct sections are congruent to one another. 
   
   
     8. The rotary connector assembly recited in  claim 5  wherein said surface intersecting said aperture creates two ring sections from each said ring, each such section forming a portion of said central aperture.